Pani ... New ART-9 up and running ...

@avanti1960  Take those calculations with a grain of salt. I did same analysis on a Japanese cart rated 10 compliance at 10hz, converted to 15-20 range which yields resonance 8.5-10. When I actually played the HiFi News Test record, I get 7hz. These formulas, manuf specs and conversions aren't exact. Many don't trust the test records...who knows?

When I heard ART9 in a SOTA system it was very neutral and even across freq. spectrum with little flavor of its own. If I had any criticism it was a lean nature & relative lack of 3D body to images. It definitely showed great value and stood more or less equally with a Dynavector XX2 at twice the price. Cheers,
Spencer

@pani Is your system posted? If not, please do.  Also, please explain the rationale for your suggestion to slowly lower VTF over a few months, as I've never heard any remotely similar concept. Cheers,
Spencer

@avanti1960  I wouldn't be too worried about the dynamics based on my comparison of ART9 to XX2, both were great in that regard and I would assume superior to the 20XL2. Both were fully broken-in when I heard them. 

@pani Thanks for clarifying. Nice rig, you should post a system with pics etc. System threads, evolving(or ever-evolving!) over time with comments from owners are one of my favorite aspects of Agon. Cheers,
Spencer

Just read @chakster 's link to JLTI. One point I found curious. 
"Optimizing Moving Magnet cartridges can go as low as 2K Ohm...The rule is simple, the lower the Load Value, the higher the damping. Most cartridges are listened to under-damped and you can benefit from listening to optimised damping." 

If I understand, this suggests that with MM carts you will want to experiment with going from 47k down to 2k or somewhere along that range. The GIANT thread here on MM implies that consensus view on changing away from 47k is in the other direction up to 100k or even more. 

So as Keenan Thompson would sing, "What's Up With That?, What's Up With That?" Cheers,
Spencer

Frank, very interesting stuff from Robert. 
It's funny in one sense as the 17D...17D3 all have a reputation for a more tipped up treble than the rest of the Dyna family. Does that imply that the others further up the line are too reticent on treble? I wouldn't think so based on my own listening to DV-X1s, XX2s, etc. 
Wonder what Robert would say about the VDH Colibris that I used to own, as I'd suspect they are tipped up a bit too? Cheers,
Spencer

"MM/MI/MF side in general." Is that Moving Magnet/ Moving Iron / Michael Fremer  side in general? Cheers,
Spencer

I posted comparisons vs. Dynavector XX2, but it wasn't mkII, and I didn't say that the ART9 came out ahead.
It came out ahead on value for price if that 2x factor or ~$1000 is important in your decision. 
I found both carts excellent and could live with either, but I found the ART9 a tad polite and lacking warmth; not on an absolute basis, but relative to the XX2. The ART9 was very neutral in tonality, detailed and had very clearly defined images in space. 
The XX2 had a more engaging way with vocals and more 3D body to the instruments, excelling with instruments like cello and acoustic guitar, but a smaller soundstage overall, with slightly less ability to untangle each instrument from the next in a large orchestra. 
My takeaway was that listeners primarily listening to rock might prefer XX2, and those into classical might prefer the ART9.
Granted all this was based on just a few hours listening, but we are all hungry for viewpoints so I didn't hesitate to share mine in case it might help somebody. I recall that the night of the comparison I felt that I'd wished that the next lower priced Dynavectors were on hand to compare to ART9 at equal price points. 

To go WAY OUT ON AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION LIMB for sh*ts and giggles here if I had to line up other carts I've lived with relative to these on a sonic continuum it would be like this:

VDH Colibri XGP <> ZYX Airy3 <> ART9 <> Signet MK111E <> XX2 Allnic Verito <>Denon103R

The left side would be described by a random room of audio buffs as detailed/delicate/airy/bright/trebley/fast/neutral/hifi/transparent/tape-like, while the same group of fans & detractors might call the right side smooth/relaxed/diffuse/rocking/warm/smeared/musical/concert-like. YMMV.
Hey if I keep going this way, maybe I can turn a whole review into just a thumbs up or thumbs down :-) Cheers,
Spencer